News Brief

NPPD Board Approval

The Nebraska Public Power District Board of Advisors approved two resolutions for the utility's electric transmission projects at last week's August meeting.

One resolution directs NPPD to restart the Keystone XL transmission line project, by request from TransCanada. The second resolution ensures the Canadian company, by contract, will reimburse NPPD for all expenses involved in building the electric infrastructure that will serve the pipeline. Media Specialist for Nebraska Public Power District, Mark Becker, says the objective on the project is to provide electricity to planned pumping stations along the new route.

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The Keystone XL Pipeline will run oil from Canada down to Texas, passing through rural Nebraska and the midwest region. Becker says the estimated cost of the project is about 18 million dollars. Keystone LLP is the primary company on the contract, and as the parent company TransCanada will recover 100 percent of the cost of the transmission line project. Becker says there is a lot of public involvement in developing a routing process.

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Becker says NPPD will not likely start construction until after TransCanada has their presidential permit. Projects like this, Becker says, may typically take a year, but this could be finished in six to nine months.